Are you expecting realistic responses or is it ok for this new thread to devolve into another shit-show?

Example 1:

"I'd move Gagner because I don't think there's a fit for this type of player on this team. He's terrible defensively and would not work in the bottom 6.

He should not be in the top 6 because we want give the kids every chance to take those spots. Plus he's not good enough to generate top 6 points over the course of an entire season anyway. He might be a very good PP specialist if Green puts him back into a rover spot like he was in CBJ.

He might be very difficult to move though. We might just have to see if he improves this year and look to buy him out if there are no other options."

Example 2:

"WE NEED TO MOVE THAT USELESS SLUG ERIKSSON BECAUSE HE SUCKS AND MAKES TOO MUCH MONEY! JUST TRADE HIM NOW FOR 2 FIRST ROUNDERS, A SECOND ROUNDER & A PROSPECT.

No doubt for me, I think Eriksson is pretty useless. I think his play on the ice is lethargic and uninspiring; also, he seems like a total flake off the ice. I'd drive him and his contract to the airport in a heartbeat. We just picked up a trio of guys who are defensively minded players and at half the price, this will make Eriksson even more useless.

I can live with Gagner, $3M is reasonable for a player like him. Also, with the twins gone, I think Gagner will play in more offensive situations and with better players, I expect him to do a bit better this year. Gagner is a nice stop gap until the Pettersons and Gaudettes are rdy. He'll be gone in just 2 more years and I expect the young guns will be rdy for prime time by then.

He is a great chip because he has perceived value to other teams. There has already been numerous inquiries. He is somewhat redundant now with Beagle and will be even more if EP can shift over to center quickly enough. Also if Gaudette looks ready. Sutter can fetch the best returns.

I think Sutter is a good player but unfortunately, Green over-values and over-plays him.

I want Gagner gone, not enough offence and really poor defense. He is as poor defensively as Goldobin and Leipsic, but he is a vet so he should be much better. Let a young guy have his ice time, and see if one of them have improved enough defensively.

I still hold out a wee bit of hope for Eriksson. I want to see him with Pettersson. I can’t believe Eriksson is a bad as he has been in Vancouver when he was so good in Boston. Give him a few months with Gaudette and Petterson while Dahlen gets used to the smaller ice in Utica. If the results are still poor, call up Dahlen and waive Eriksson.

I like Gagner, but I feel Hobey Baker award winner Adam Gaudette deserves a shot at turning full-time pro at center, he has more intangibles to his game as a 200ft player and untapped scoring potential, even the Sedins commented on how good he is as an all round player.

Green didn’t want Adam Gaudette to just stick a toe in the competitive waters Thursday. He made a splash by not making a mistake, making the most of 10:39 of fourth-line time and making the right impression.

After signing his three-year, entry-level deal Monday and burning the first year Thursday, he proved he can process the game at this level and make the smart play.

“He did some good things,” said Green. “It’s a big step for him, but I liked what I saw. He looked like he had confidence and worked to get places.”

Gaudette made an early, smart zone exit pass off the wall, sped through the neutral zone and zipped a wrist shot over the net and off the glass.

“In the defensive zone you’ve got to be quicker,” he said. “I realized that right away and as the game went on, I got better. The first shift in the D-zone, I was a little starstruck at how quick you needed to be on a guy, but I picked it up.”

More important, he knew he wasn’t going to play in the third period of a tight game — just four shifts — and that’s giving him an early leg up on getting it at this level.

“I didn’t expect to be out there,” he said. “There are guys who lead this team and I’m not in that position yet; it’s good for me to watch and learn from them.”

I feel it's important to have a blend of vets and at least one rookie at center if this team is to successfully transition in the youth.

Horvat
Sutter
Gaudette
Beags

Pettersson likely starts at wing, where he was for the most part in Vaxjo, but he will slowly transition to center over the next coupla years, it's important that he does that sooner rather than later to master that position, so he doesn't get stuck on wing like Sam Reinhart.

And I like Eriksson' game, he's also a 200ft player, can play on all special teams and he's kind of a big fella at 6'2 almost 200lbs with a long reach to score around the net, if it wasn't for his contract he would get more love imo.
All he needs is for powerplay coach Newell Brown to show him some love, because under Claude Julien and Willie Desjardins they gave Eriksson powerplay minutes and Loui shined.

A long time ago, a baseball player remarked: "If I owned a ballclub, I'd hire a $5,000 coach and a $15,000 scout."

He is a great chip because he has perceived value to other teams. There has already been numerous inquiries. He is somewhat redundant now with Beagle and will be even more if EP can shift over to center quickly enough. Also if Gaudette looks ready. Sutter can fetch the best returns.

I think Sutter is a good player but unfortunately, Green over-values and over-plays him.

Yeah, I heard there was some interest in Sutter @ TDD. Sutter is a good player to have on a playoff team, but for a rebuilding team, not so much. If we have another lottery year, the Pall Bearer might as well shop Sutter's services around. If we're in the playoff hunt, then keep him.

Interesting ! In what way(s) would you say Linden's performance has been deficient? How are you able to determine that those deficiencies lie with Linden rather than other elements of the ownership/management group ?